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George Mason Changes Law School Name to Avoid 'Controversial' Acronym

April 6, 2016

(ARLINGTON, Va.) — George Mason University is adjusting the name of its law school after it was renamed in honor of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Last week, the Virginia-based institution announced the new name: “The Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University.” But the switch spurred plenty of jokes on social media due to the awkward acronym, with many posting criticism on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #ASSLaw.

To get around the problem, the school’s dean wrote a letter to students, faculty and alumni on Tuesday to acknowledge the complaints and make yet another change.

“The name initially announced — The Antonin Scalia School of Law — has caused some acronym controversy on social media. The Antonin Scalia Law School is a logical substitute,” Dean Henry Butler wrote.

A combined $30 million gift financed by an anonymous donor and the Charles Koch Foundation prompted the change originally as the gift was contingent on naming the school after the late justice. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a longtime friend and colleague of Scalia, has praised the school’s decision to pay tribute to Scalia.

The name change will officially take effect on July 1, following approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.